Empowering youth to combat racism and reduce violence

Youth Empowerment Solutions: Engaging Youth for Anti-Racism And Cultural Equity (YES-ERACE)

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10597030

This study is testing a program called Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) to help middle school students learn how to stand up against racism and discrimination, with the goal of reducing aggressive behavior and promoting kindness among peers.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-10597030 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to adapt and test a youth violence prevention program called Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) specifically for middle school students. The program focuses on empowering youth to address issues of racism and racial discrimination, which are linked to aggressive behaviors. By integrating the Teaching Tolerance curriculum, the project seeks to equip students with the tools to resist negative attitudes and behaviors during a critical developmental period. The effectiveness of this program will be evaluated through a group-randomized trial in summer programs across multiple middle schools.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are middle school students, particularly those from minority backgrounds who may be at risk for aggressive behavior.

Not a fit: Patients who are not in the middle school age range or who do not experience issues related to racism or aggression may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a significant reduction in youth violence and promote cultural equity among adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in using empowerment programs to address youth violence and discrimination, indicating that this approach has potential.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.